Generation of reactive oxygen species by Kupffer cells and blood monocytes during intestinal amebiasis in guinea pigs.

The reactive oxygen species generation capacity of Kupffer cells and blood monocytes was studied through chemiluminescence (CL) in guinea pigs, infected intracecally with Entameba histolytica, on days 0, 3, 7, 14 and 21 post infection. There was an elevated response up to the 14th post-infection day. The CL response of these cells was diminished on the 21st post infection day though it was significantly higher than up the controls. The CL response increased exponentially with the severity of cecal lesions. A direct correlation was observed between the CL response of phagocytic cells and cecal lesions of animals. The role of oxygen species in causation of tissue injury during intestinal amebiasis is postulated.